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She told People.com, “I said, ‘I want to do this. I want to show my personality. I want to show what my life looks like, being happy and joyful. I want to show what Down Syndrome looks like.”

Holmgren competed in the Minnesota Miss Amazing pageant, which features women with special needs. She is a native to Marine on the St. Croix native who is an accomplished dancer, reported People.

She said she wasn’t nervous to apply, on the contrary, she was “super proud.”

When she discovered she made the cut, Holmgren said she was ecstatic.

“I was just so happy and I had a smile on my face.”

Now, she has until Nov. 26 to get ready for the competition.

For Holmgren, though, she is excited to just make a difference as the first person with Down Syndrome to compete for the crown. She told People that she’s very proud of herself for taking the leap and said she plans to “blaze the trail.”